Boxing group answers some questions but raises many more about tests on Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting

PARIS — The International Boxing Association raised new questions while struggling to answer others Monday at a shambolic news conference about the opaque eligibility tests that led the Olympics-banned governing body to abruptly suspend Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from last year’s world championships, a decision that has fueled online abuse against the women during the Paris Games. That appears in direct contradiction with an IBA statement from July 31, when it said Khelif and Lin “did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognized test, whereby the specifics remain confidential.” Roberts, who is second in command to Kremlev at the IBA, repeatedly said observers should “read between the lines” about the tests while declining to give more details. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said last week that the IBA gave the Olympic body the results of the testing done on Khelif and Lin, but it was “so flawed that it was impossible to deal with.” As on his social media accounts, Kremlev spent much of his virtual speaking time attacking the IOC and President Thomas Bach, who has called the “hate speech” against the two boxers “totally unacceptable.” Kremlev was unable or unwilling to discuss the science behind the IBA’s tests in technical terms. IBA will always protect and defend athletes.” The IOC said in a statement later Monday that “the content and the organization of the IBA press conference tells you everything that you need to know about this organization and its credibility.” The backlash against Khelif and Lin ballooned after Khelif’s first opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, tearfully abandoned their bout after just 46 seconds.